Blair 'sorry' for incident
2005-09-29 12:55
Brighton - British Prime Minister Tony Blair apologised on Thursday after an 82-year-old member of his Labour Party was ejected from its annual conference for heckling over Iraq, a row threatening to overshadow the event's last day.
Asked if Walter Wolfgang, a refugee from Nazi Germany who has been a Labour Party member for 57 years, had his personal apology, Blair told GMTV television: "Yes, he does. I'm really sorry about it."
The prime minister's words were aimed at turning around what was fast becoming a public relations disaster for Labour, returned to power in May's general election for an unprecedented third consecutive term.
Heavy-handed tactics
Wolfgang was thrown out of the conference hall in Brighton, a southern English seaside resort, during a speech on Wednesday by foreign secretary Jack Straw.
As Straw discussed the situation in Iraq, Wolfgang, who opposed the March 2003 invasion, shouted "nonsense" and was ejected by stewards. As he tried to re-enter the venue he was stopped by police under anti-terrorism laws.
The apparently heavy-handed tactics - a delegate who protested at Wolfgang's treatment was also ejected - dominated newspaper headlines on Thursday, far more so than Straw's speech itself, which warned of "more dark moments" in Iraq.
On Wednesday, Labour Party chairperson Ian McCartney said sorry for the incident, while officials returned Wolfgang's conference pass, meaning he could attend the final day.
"Occasionally incidents take place unfortunately, people get ejected. On most occasions they get ejected appropriately. On this instance he was ejected inappropriately so we apologise," McCartney told the BBC.
Numerous apologies
In a round of broadcast interviews on Thursday morning, Blair apologised a number of times over the ejection.
While there had to be rules about heckling from the conference floor, "obviously, when there's an old person there should not be heavy handedness in this way," he told BBC radio.
Despite some remaining euphoria from May's general election win, and the still-parlous state of the main opposition Conservative Party, the five-day conference has proved a far from a celebratory affair.
Away from Iraq, the event has been dominated by speculation as to when Blair will step down from power and who will take over from him.
Questions about Blair's successorLast year Blair said he would not seek a fourth term in office, and would step down as Labour leader and prime minister ahead of the next general election, which must take place before May 2010.
Blair's respected and long-standing finance minister Gordon Brown is considered the overwhelming favourite to take over, and his supporters have begun pressuring the prime minister to go sooner rather than later.
Blair refused point blank to discuss the succession process when quizzed about it.
- AFP